Pakistan’s foreign minister disqualified by court for holding UAE work permit

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif was on Thursday disqualified from holding office by the high court here for concealing details of his UAE work permit while contesting polls in 2013, in another major blow to the ruling PML-N party ahead of the general elections.

In an unanimous verdict, a three-member special bench of the Islamabad High Court ruled that Asif was not “truthful” and “honest” and disqualified him under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution. The petition was filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar, seeking disqualification of Asif for holding an Iqama (work permit) of the UAE, reports PTI. Dar who lost election against Asif in 2013 had challenged the qualification of Asif, 68, as the member of parliament for not declaring his job and salary while contesting the polls.

Asif will be unable to hold public or party office for life after the verdict.

Article 62, which sets the precondition for a member of parliament to be "sadiq and ameen" (honest and righteous), is the same provision under which former prime minsiter Sharif was disqualified on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case.Asif is one of top leaders of ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz and his disqualification is considered as another huge blow to the party ahead of election scheduled to be held after June.